Annual New Jersey PGA Charity Clambake pro-am style tournament

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- The New Jersey Section, PGA of America (NJPGA), will host its annual New Jersey PGA Charity Clambake, sponsored by Lincoln and presented by Titleist, FootJoy and Lawley Insurance, June 10-12, 2013, at Rockaway River Country Club in Denville, N.J. Modeled after the PGA TOUR's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and long considered one of the NJPGA's four Major Championships, the event has raised over $1 million for charitable organizations since its inception.

The beneficiaries of this exciting event include the Special Olympics New Jersey and the New Jersey Golf Foundation (NJGF), the charitable arm of the NJPGA. The NJGF is committed to positively impacting lives and communities through the game of golf by offering dynamic programs where individuals from all backgrounds, including youth, special needs, military and women, have an opportunity to experience the game of golf in a welcoming environment, highlighted by "Golf In Schools," Boys & Girls Clubs of America and YMCA programs. In fact, "Golf In Schools" is an initiative designed to introduce the game of golf to children by incorporating the sport into the physical education curriculum at elementary and middle schools, under the guidance of PGA Professionals. Currently, an astounding 110,000 children (K-8th grade) at more than 200 schools in New Jersey participate in the "Golf In Schools" program.

Highlighting the event is the Gala Clambake dinner which is held on Tuesday, June 11, following the conclusion of the second round. At this time, the NJPGA will make two charity presentations; one to the NJGF and the other to Special Olympics New Jersey.

One hundred teams, consisting of one PGA Professional and one amateur partner, will compete in both a Team Net and Gross competition, while the PGA Professionals compete in their own 54-hole stroke play championship. All players compete in the first two rounds and the field is then cut to the Low 50 PGA Professionals and ties, Low 15 Gross Teams and ties and Low 20 Net Teams and ties, prior to round three. In addition to the significant contributions to the worthy charities, the event purse for PGA Professionals is one of the largest for any event contested in the New Jersey Section.

The Charity Clambake has seen a number of great champions over the years, with Ed Whitman, PGA Professional at Knickerbocker Country Club in Tenafly, N.J., as the defending champion. Some playing highlights and career achievements in the event include: Westlake's Kevin Maciorowski who had a Hole-In-One on the Par 4 12th hole; Brooklake's Frank Esposito who captured three consecutive titles from 2005-2007 and recorded the low round in the event's history with an 8-under par, 64, in 2005; and Esposito and Manasquan River's Brent Studer who share the low 54-hole total with 11-under par, 205's.

For more information on the NJPGA, please visit www.newjersey.pga.com.

About The PGA of America
Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf. The New Jersey Section is one of 41 geographic sections throughout the country and has been in operation since 1925. In 2012, the NJPGA was the recipient of the Herb Graffis Award, presented annually to a PGA Section that shows extraordinary or exemplary contributions in player development and growth of the game programming.

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